Flora-Bama's Mullet Toss draws visitors from across the country (photos from day one)

PERDIDO KEY, Florida -- The Flora-Bama's Annual Mullet Toss is taking place on the Alabama and Florida state line, but you might not know it from the collection of party-goers gathered to watch and participate in the fish-throwing.

John Bats traveled down from the Bronx, New York with about 30 of his closest friends on what he termed a "fake bachelor party."

"My buddy is single, in his mid-40s and we don't get to get together that much, so we decided to round everybody up and throw him a fake bachelor party," Bats said.

By noon on Friday, Bats and the rest of his group were already raving about their first Mullet Toss experience.

"The is a ridiculous mid-life oasis," Bats said. "Forget the crisis.

"We grew up in summer places in New York like the Hamptons. This is the Hamptons on steroids."

There's also a noticeable Louisiana influence on the beaches. LSU and New Orleans Saints flags and tents have cornered a large block of sand just on the Alabama side of the boardwalk leading out from the Flora-Bama.

Trent Hebert, 30, has been making the journey east from New Orleans for Mullet Toss several years now with a group of friends from the Big Easy.

"When you come up thinking about spring break in high school, this is what you think about," Hebert said. "This is adult spring break."

The Mullet Toss festivities continue through the weekend at the Flora-Bama. We'll be here posting photos and updates from the middle of the madness. Keep logging on to al.com for the latest updates.